Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Jan 12, 2009, at 1:17 PM, Clansgian AT wmconnect.com wrote:

> > > Not Lynn, but I too use a tote sled for just about anything in the
> > winter---
>
> There's a type of sled used around here and is a traditional piece of
> Appalachian farm equipment.  It's called a "stone boat" because it  
> is sturdy enough to haul a load of stones out of the fields as they  
> were unearthed by the plow.  But is is also used for wood, hay, and  
> everything else.
>
> The runners are made of locust logs and if done properly it can be  
> dragged
> over a pasture or hayfield and hardly leave a mark.  It's intended  
> to be horse drawn, of course.

I have a people-drawn version, simply two two-by-four runners topped  
with a piece of plywood and a bit of edging. All four bottom corners  
are angle-cut and the rope pull is fastened at each end with enough  
slack going under the belly so it can be pulled or steered both ways.  
I made it one winter about fifteen years ago when our steep driveway  
was snow over ice. The neighbors did my shopping while I crunched my  
way up through the woods. I met them at the top, put my supplies on it  
and steered it down the ice slide, often from a prone position. I used  
it last summer behind Chris's chariot to bring down large stones from  
alongside the driveway.

We Wisconsin boys know about stone boats. One of my first big-money  
jobs was picking stones for a neighbor. Five bucks a day.

>

Gene GeRue
www.RURALIZE.com